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Parowan staff previews draft short‑term rental code; commission to continue review
Summary
City staff presented a draft short‑term rental ordinance May 7 that would define hosted and unhosted rentals, require local contacts and safety inspections, and set licensing, occupancy and enforcement rules, and asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to review the draft for further consideration.
City staff presented a preliminary draft short‑term rental (STR) regulatory code to the Parowan Planning and Zoning Commission on May 7 and asked commissioners to review the proposal before a fuller discussion at a later meeting.
The draft defines hosted STRs (owner on site during rental) and unhosted STRs (owner not on site), establishes a required local contact who must be able to respond within 30–60 minutes and reside within 30 miles, and recommends licensing and yearly renewals with verification of insurance and tax compliance. The staff member presenting the draft described the draft as “a first swipe” and said it is conceptual, not a final proposal.
Key provisions discussed by staff and commissioners included: possible limits on unhosted rentals in lower‑density zones (hosted only in R‑1, R‑1A and R‑2; unhosted allowed in R‑3 and commercial zones under one option); occupancy limits (one option: two guests per bedroom, another: two per bedroom plus two additional occupants); parking standards (one off‑street space per bedroom suggested); safety inspection checklist (smoke detectors, fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, emergency‑exit info) and a required good‑neighbor policy to be posted in units. Staff also proposed fines of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $1,000 for repeat violations; three violations within 12 months could trigger review and potential license revocation with a 30‑day appeal to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Staff cited recent changes in state law allowing online listings to be used as evidence of operation (state code section 85.4) but noted such listings cannot be the only evidence. Commissioners and attendees with experience in Brian Head recommended considering disproportionate licensing fees to cover increased public‑safety and inspection costs for high‑use rental units, and suggested requiring HOA approval where applicable. Several commissioners stressed balancing homeowner supplemental income with neighborhood character and enforcement capacity.
No ordinance was adopted May 7. Staff asked commissioners to study the draft and return for a more detailed review at a future meeting.
